
























































FOR PRIVATE CIRCITLATIORT. 


REPORT 


OP THE 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND CONDITION 


/ 

/ 



CHESTERFIELD DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA. 


ib^t 


PROF. MONTROVILLE WILSON DIC9CESON, M. D 



OF PHILADELPHIA, 


* 


Member of the American Association for the Promotion of Science; the Academy of 
Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; the Society for Developing the 
Mineral Resources of the United States, Ac., Ac., 


ACCOMPANIED WITH THE REPORT AND ASSAYS OF 

PROF. FREDERICK A, GENTH, Ph. D., 

t 

Member of the American Philosophical Society, Academy of Natural Sciences, Ac.. Ac., 

OF PHILADELPHIA. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

JAMES B. CHANDLER. PRINTER, 306 & 308 CHESTNUT STREET. 

1859 , 




U ' 


X CYSW 












SOUTH CAROLINA GOLD MOUNTAIN MINE. 


The gold formations of the Atlantic slope of the United 
States, have been fully established to he: first, the quartz 
veins—the only veins which, in their descent to the lower 
rocks, can at all be relied upon; second, the slate veins; 
and lastly, those whose gangue is composed either of iron 
pyrites, oxide of iron, or quartz and copper pj^rites, which 
last }deld quite satisfactorily in the upper workings. 

The first named, the quartz veins, though bearing the 
general reputation of being continuous, frequently fail at 
no great depth from the surface, and, consequently, it is 
not unusual to learn of their abandonment after a very 
lavish expenditure of means. The second, or auriferous 
slate veins, are, as is well known, subject to very great varia¬ 
tions in their downward course, very frequently loosing the 
gold and taking up with the copper ores. Lastly, the brown 
ores, or those whose gangue is as previously stated, which 
give entirely out, or run, as they approach water-level, into 
iron and copper pyrites, which, in the amalgamation of the 
ores, interferes seriously with the taking up of the gold by the 
mercury. Consequently, the mining of gold in these forma¬ 
tions, has been attended with much hazard and disappoint¬ 
ment, and hence the suspicion with which it is regarded. 






4 


The formation, however, which is the subject of this 
report, differs wholly from those I have described, and is, 
therefore, not obnoxious to any of the defects that exist in 
relation to, or that can be urged against them, it being a 
mountain of decomposed quartz, concreted by the iron into 
a pulverulent sand-rock, one mile in length, eight hundred 
yards in width, reliable for gold to any depth, and bounded 
by walls of slate—the whole mass of which is rich enough 
to render it a very profitable gold-bearing property, trans¬ 
cending in its aggregate value anything of the kind I 
have met with in my particular and extended examina¬ 
tions of the entire gold regions of the Atlantic slope. 

There are on this property no workings to be freed from 
water by expensive machinery; the ore is free from sul- 
phurets, and requires no selecting; there it lies in mass as 
I have described it, and is so easily quarried, as to remove, 
prepared for the mills, from ten to fifty tons by a single 
blast. This immense body of ore is inexhaustible by the 
application of the most perfect appliances, and on the 
grandest scale that can be inaugurated by any combination 
of ingenuity, labor and machinery for many centuries. 

This property is situated in Chesterfield District, South 
Carolina, between Lynch and Fork Creeks, and contains 
five hundred acres, originally belonging to Burrell Brewer, 
whose idea of its value was evidently derived from that 
portion of it called the “Tan Yard,” the recipient of the 
deposites washed down from the more elevated portions of 
the property, which he leased out in patches of from ten 
to twelve feet square, reserving as consideration for the 
same one-fourth of the gross amount of the gold produced. 
There were, as I was informed, under this arrangement, 
hundreds of lessees at one time engaged with rockers and 
pans in extracting the precious metal from this locality. 


r 

o 

This occurred as early as 1828, and was continued down 
to 1832, when this particular locality was so cut up by the 
unskilful system, pursued in working it, that it was aban¬ 
doned, which would not have been the case, as we can now 
see, had this portion of the property been wrought under 
the direction of a single mind, with the aid of the proper 
kind of machinery, presenting as it then would, no features 
of mutilation; as the whole being equally rich, the nume¬ 
rous small pits here dug and defining each lessee’s boundary 
would have been unnecessary. The portion remaining is a 
mass of gold-bearing material which is yet to be worked. 

The “Tan Yard,” derived its name from these numerous 
small pits, which give it somewhat of that appearance. It 
is situated on what is known as the “Abram Branch,” is 
several hundred yards in extent, and composed of the loam 
and fragmentary quartz, brought down by the water from 
the parent source, or that portion of the great quartz vein 
that traverses the sand-stone of the contiguous elevation. 

The slopes of the mountain and the surface at its base 
are covered with a deposite, consisting of the debris of its 
formation, which has been worked superficially, the amount 
paid, however, in the form of tribute to the owners of the 
property, exceeds, I am informed, the sum of one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars, and this too, without compre¬ 
hending the value of, or encroaching in the least upon, the 
prime source of this great wealth. 

These surface workings were continued, with not much 
rigor however, up to the period of the discovery of the 
source of the supply in 1843, by Col. Craig and Messrs. 
Anderson and Kinsen, which discovery, in view of the 
obscurity in which the geology of the property had for 
so many years been involved, reflects much credit upon 
the intelligence of those gentlemen. Since this discovery, 


6 


neither the machinery nor the system of management has 
been of a character to secure results in any way propor¬ 
tioned to the facilities for obtaining the ore, its great pro¬ 
fusion and richness, or the great value of the property. 

ITS GEOLOGY. 

On ascending the principal elevation of the property, I 
found large masses of talco-micaceous slate, which consti¬ 
tute the main walls of the immense natural sand-stone 
structure, which contains the auriferous matter, and being 
decomposed, is carried down the sides by the action of the 
rains. Between the walls of slates which are exposed, are 
found large beds of soap-stone of a superior quality, through 
which are seen groups of beautiful crystals — radiating 
Pyrophyllite—of a yellowish-red color, pearly lustre, and 
sub-transparent. Enclosed in this formation of slate is a 
decomposed quartz, agglutinated by a hydrated oxide of 
iron, and forming a friable sand-stone, which is easily 
crushed into a fine powder by the simple pressure of the 
fingers, and the color of which varies with the quantity of 
iron contained in each stratum—from a snow-white to a 
reddish-brown. 

The mass which I have previously introduced, assumes 
the aspect of a mountain, from 300 to 400 feet in height, a 
mile in length, and 800 yards in width, which, throughout, 
is impregnated with gold, and which Prof. F. A. Gen til’s 
analysis of average specimens from the general formation 
fully sustains. 

This peculiar type of a gold-bearing vein or mass is con¬ 
fined to the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro¬ 
lina and Georgia. There are three gold-bearing veins or 
formations that pass through this gold-bearing mass, from 
25 to 30 feet apart, and in the aggregate 90 feet in width, 



r 7 

l 

whose strike is north, 45° east, and dip about 45° north. 
Upon these most of the pits that have been worked were 
located, and I am informed that small strings traversed 
their lodes, so rich as to produce from 300 to 600 dollars in 
gold, to the bushel of 125 pounds. 

At first sight I found it difficult to determine whether 
these veins were true or not, but close investigation assured 
me they were. It was also difficult to determine whether 
the vein-stone or the slate formation on this property pro¬ 
duces the best ore, the chief feature of distinction being 
however that the vein-stone is the most siliceous, and in 
the oxidized portions of it, or where it has been disinte¬ 
grated, arenaceous, friable and pulverulent. 

As you descend, the more compact this gold-bearing mass 
of ore becomes, but its consistence, where decomposition 
ceases, cannot be precisely affirmed, though I am of the 
opinion that it is analagous to the hornstone-like quartz 
that crops out at various points of the property. 

In several parts of this formation the sand-stone is com¬ 
pletely covered with small mammillated masses of a dark 
color, arranged in cavernous aborescent forms, through 
which is seen a most beautiful combination of iridescent 
colors, defying all powers of description. 

The gold-bearing sand-stone takes the usual course of 
the quartz veins, which is north-east and south-west, and 
it dips north 45°. It is completely bounded on all sides 
by slate walls; on the east and west by a talco-micaceous 
slate, which is backed by a similar extent of clay-slates. 
These extend to a valley in a fork, formed by the Bryant 
and Fork Creeks, called “ Louse level,” which has been 
worked superficially over a space of about ten acres, and 
to the depth of about eight feet, at which depth a rock was 
struck, designated by the miners “ Salt rock,” but being too 


8 


hard to be wrought by their rude and imperfect facilities, 
it was permitted to remain undisturbed. This formation, 
the “Salt rock,” I deem of much importance as a part of 
the property, as I have no doubt it will be found to be rich 
in gold. On the north side of the mountain, backing the 
slates, a very fine bed of soap-stone occurs, which is valuar 
ble for various economical purposes. 

The slate formations on the north and south, similar to 
those described on the east and west, show that this gigantic 
mass of sand-stone is completely enclosed on all sides by 
slates, though they differ somewhat in character. On the 
north side, and parallel with the gold-bearing rocks, runs 
an immense quartz vein, also one of less magnitude on the 
south, and across them, running diagonally, are numerous 
small quartz strings, all of which are very rich in gold. 

Interspersed through the sand-stone, I found masses of 
pyritic rock, resembling the “arsenic” at Ducktown, Tenn., 
and known among the miners there as Kidnies, which con¬ 
tain beautiful crystals—Enargite, and which, though con¬ 
taining gold, are usually rejected in consequence of the 
difficulty of crushing them. 

The iron on this property assumes in some instances the 
cubic form, quite small, and which is most abundant in the 
neighborhood of the pump shaft. On the south-east corner 
of the property is the “Tan Yard,” or as it is also termed, 
the “Deposite Mine,” already fully described, and also an 
immense bed of unusually fine soap-stone, which extends 
about one half the distance of the slate at that point. 

Several large levels have been opened on the top of the 
mountain, which have been worked by open-cut as quarries 
are, and all the matter taken out of these levels has been 
found to be very productive in gold. Several of these 
excavations are united by cross-sections, which supply a 
common cart-way for the whole. 


9 


I herewith refer to the various locations on this property 
which have been worked of late years to a considerable 
extent, with such data in relation to them as I could 
acquire, it being my purpose to present every part of it as 
I found it during my late very minute examination. 

“JOHN BAKER PIT." 

This pit is on the slope of the mountain, its formation is 
a series of sand-stones of various colors, and the consistence 
is of a character to require in mining it the pick and soft- 
blast. Much of the labor expended upon this property, 
since the discovery of the sand-stone workings, appears to 
have been applied here in consequence probably of its con¬ 
tiguity to the machinery. The present lessee mines entirely 
by open-cut, rejecting nothing, taking the mass as it is 
found; as the experiment of selecting ores, has established 
it to be of equal richness as a whole. The water-shaft, sunk 
to the depth of 80 feet, with a six inch suction and lift 
pump, is located in a corner of this pit, which is several 
hundred feet in length, 50 feet in depth, and connected by 
levels with a number of smaller openings of the same 
formation. 

“SLATE PIT." 

This presented the appearance of not having received 
much attention of late, and though considerable work has 
been done here, it does not appear to have been extensively 
wrought. The analysis justifies, as far as the work has 
proceeded, its neglect for other locations apparently richer. 
The difficulty here may arise from a considerable mixture 
of slate, which depth will, without much doubt, diminish. 

“MALOY PIT." 

This pit was about 75 feet in depth, but unsupported by 


10 


either walls or curbing, it has caved in. The formation on 
the side of the mountain where it is located, justifies liberal 
anticipations in regard to a good supply of the precious 
metal. It is noted for a large mass of bismuth found there 
about twelve years ago, the vein containing it said to be 
about 8 feet in width, and sent to the late Prof. Tuomey, 
which yielded some 80 per cent, in two forms—the native 
and the carbonate. The condition of the pit forbade any 
research to establish anything beside its general formation. 

“ ELISHA BAKER PIT.” 

This pit, like the preceding one, from not being supported 
in any way, in the process of excavation, has caved in. 
From a cursory survey, it is located in a dune of white sand, 
which has a tendency to form itself into geodes, whose ex¬ 
terior is coated with hydrated iron. As none of the material 
taken from this pit remains about it, I must conclude that 
it has been worked up as ore—the character of which justifies 
the analysis. 

“ PERGIVAL PIT.” 

This resembles the last described, the formation being, 
however, a little more compact, and it is in the same con¬ 
dition. The product from this pit has undoubtedly been 
satisfactory, judging from the present richness of the ore. 

“ CANTY PIT.” 

In this pit, there appears to have been excavated an 
unusual amount of subterranean work, the main shaft having 
been sunk one hundred and fifteen feet, and at this depth, 
it was perfectly dry, the drifting appears to have been 35° 
east of north, and every particle of the material taken out 
has been hauled away as ore. The formation is an im¬ 
mense bed of white sand, the richness of which in gold was 


11 


increased down to the extreme depth reached. Colonel 
Craig informed me that at the bottom of this shaft a purple 
conglomerated-sand was struck, from which five hands 
obtained—even by their imperfect method of working it— 
83 28-100 dollars in gold, each, for a single week’s work. 

In both this and the Percival pits, the compass varies 
some 15° from a true course, in a distance of about 50 feet, 
the result of the influence of the magnetic iron. In the 
former pit the ledges run north-east and south-west, and 
small strings of quartz run across the same, whose course 
is north and south, and which are very richly impregnated 
with gold. Parallel with these ledges runs a large quartz 
vein, which, upon disintegration, yields a coarse gold 990- 
1000 fine. The small quartz veins dip 45° west, several of 
which apparently extend from this and other pits into the 
mountain. One in particular was so large as to permit a 
tunnel to be driven through it. How far could not be 

o 

determined, the dilapidation rendering it impossible to 
penetrate it. 

BUILDINGS, MACHINERY, &c. 

An engine house 40 by GO feet of good material and sub¬ 
stantially built; an engine of 35 horse-power, two years 
old, two feet cylinder, six feet stroke, and cut-off valve; 
two 30 feet boilers in good order and substantially laid; 
three batteries of stamps, eight in a battery, six inches 
square, and weighing 135 pounds each; two Georgian 
round-buddies, fifteen feet in diameter; a small iron cylin¬ 
der crusher; two Chilian mills; several rockers, and a 
blacksmith’s shop well supplied with the necessary tools, 
and in good order. There is also a small engine, eight 
horse-power, with three boilers eighteen feet long each, 
used for pumping water, and driving saw mill. 



12 


This is the whole array for working this magnificent 
gold property; but little additional expense being neces¬ 
sary, however, as I will show, to render it what it has 
never been, is capable of being, and should be made—the 
most reliable and profitable gold property in the Atlantic 
States. 


Engine 35 horse-power, with crusher and two Chilian 
mills, on the property. 


Addition—6 Chilian mills, cost, - 
32 Tyrolean u “ - 

It is proposed to add, viz: 

Engine 50 horse-power, cost, 
Rollers, “ 

12 Chilian mills, u 

48 Tyrolean u u 

Buildings, &c., - 
^Quicksilver, 4000 lbs. 


$ 1,000 00 
1,600 00 


5,000 00 

1.500 00 
2,000 00 
2,400 00 

4.500 00 
2,000 00 


$ 20,000 00 


This power of 85 horses will work with two sets of 
hands, two thousand bushels of ore per day of twenty-four 
hours. 


Result— 

2,000 bushels of ore at 20 cents per bushel, 
Less expenses, 331 per cent., - 

Net profits per day, 


- $400 00 

- 166 66f 


- $233 331 


300 days at $233 331-100 each day, - - $70,000 


* A large quantity being necessary in the beginning, on the score of efficiency 
and economy. 








As each 50 horse-power, with its accompanying machi¬ 
nery as detailed, will work twelve humdred bushels of ore 
per day, a similar increase of power added, when it is 
deemed to be judicious or convenient to do so, shows that 
the amount that can be wrought, and hence the product, 
can only be limited to the amount of power applied, which 
can thus be increased proportionately to the increase of 
power. 

RESUME. 

There is here presented, one of those extraordinary for¬ 
mations in nature, one mile in length, eight hundred yards 
in width, and reliable to any depth, in mass, a gold-bearing 
vein, ramified and re-ramified, till an aggregate of wealth 
is embodied in it which will impose for its exhaustion all 
the power that can be applied to it by man, for many 
centuries. 

The ore possesses the rare quality of being free from 
all sulphurets, is easily displaced in large quantities by 
blasting, and being very friable, it requires but little power 
to prepare it for the mills. Fuel is abundant on and near 
this property. 

Though my report indicates what may be termed long- 
continued and extensive workings on this property, still its 
geology has been so slightly comprehended, and the appli¬ 
cation of labor and machinery has been so crude and 
ineffective, that the sum of gold taken from it bears but a 
very small proportion to the amount remaining. 

The machinery shows that wh.le there was ample pre¬ 
paration in part, for fair results, it was as a whole, defec¬ 
tive. The idea of effectiveness to the extent of the power 
of the same, if it was ever entertained, never having been 
consummated. With the completion of the machinery now 


14 


on the property, and that proposed to be placed there, I 
aimed to establish my calculations on a basis of the mini¬ 
mum production, and, therefore, I feel confident they will 
be more than sustained, relying as X do upon one hundred 
bushels per day to each Chilian Mill, whose capacity is 
equal to one hundred and fifty to two hundred bushels. 

The apparently large result of seventy thousand dollars 
per annum of net profits from this property, with a further 
increase of that sum, proportionate to the power upon 
which it is based, requires for its confirmation such data 
only as I have conveyed; which is, that the property con¬ 
tains the ore in such quantity and richness as to require 
but the application of the power, as I have stated it, to 
produce it. 

In my survey of this property, X was much indebted to 
the familiarity with it, of l)r. E. XX. Andrews, Col. Hugh 
Craig, and Mining Captain James Northey—now employed 
as such on the property—who rendered me every assistance 
and attention in their power, and without reference to their 
personal comfort or convenience. 

MONTKOYILLE W. DICKESON, M. D., 

ECONOMIC GEOLOGIST, 

No. 424 Walnut Street , 

Philadelphia. 


Chemical Laboratory, No. 333 Walnut St., 
Philadelphia, October 12 th, 1859. 

I have carefully examined the report on the “ South 
Carolina Gold Mountain Mine,” made bv Dr. M. W. 
Dickeson, and from my knowledge of the mine, the exami¬ 
nation of the ores, and inquiries made during my late visit 
to South and North Carolina, 1 believe that in all of its 
details, it will be fully sustained by future operations, if 
they are conducted on a sound, scientific and practical 
working plan. 

The ores collected by Dr. Dickeson, representing the 
average of the various pits named in the above report, 
showed the peculiar character of this mine, and were 
taken from ten to twenty different parts of the various 
pits. 

All my efforts to detect visible gold in these specimens, 
were in vain, with one exception, in which I could see 
with a very powerful glass, a very minute fragment in a 
piece from the Cantey pit. Being desirous to arrive at the 
lowest average which the mine is capable of producing, I 
examined the ores from the Cantey pit, both with and 
without the piece showing gold. The following are the 
results of my assays 


No. 1, Ore from John Baker’s Pit, yielded in two assays, 15 and 16* 


cents in --------- 

2, Ore from Slate Pit, yielded 6 cents in - 

3, Ore from Maloy’s Pit, yielded 24 cents in - - - 

4, Ore from Elisha Baker’s Pit, yielded 12 cents in - 

5, Ore from Percival Pit, yielded 26.4 cents in 

6, Ore from Cantey’s Pit, (average) yielded 49 cents in - 

“ without visible gold, yielded 31.5 cts. in 
“ with u “ 96 cts. in 


u 


100 lbs. 
100 “ 
100 “ 
100 
] 00 
100 
100 “ 
100 


u 


u 


u 


u 


u 


u 


16 


The average of the ore from the whole mine, would 
therefore be a little over 22 cents in 100 lbs. Rejecting 
the ores, however, from the Slate pit, the average of the 
five other pits would go a little beyond 25 cents to the 100 
lbs. However small this yield may appear to those unac¬ 
quainted with the manufacture of gold from the ores, it is 
nevertheless a very" large one, and considering the truly 
enormous size of the deposit, and the facility for extract¬ 
ing the gold, it places the “ South Carolina Gold Mountain 
Mine” in the front rank of all the gold mines in the world. 

During my late visit to South Carolina, I had the plea¬ 
sure of becoming acquainted with Prof. Oscar M. Lieber, 
State Geologist of South Carolina, and, en passant , w r hen 
speaking* about the mines of the State of South Carolina, 
he pronounced this to be the most valuable in the Atlantic 
States. Expressing my surprise at this remark, and stating 
I thought the celebrated “ Dorn Mine” was the greatest 
gold mine of the Southern States, he informed me, that 
according to a statement made by Mr. Dorn to him, the 
average production of the “ Dorn Mine” was not above 25 
cents to the 100 lbs., although they would occasionally 
strike a rich pocket, as has been the case in the South 
Carolina Gold Mountain Mine. 

Of course we must agree with Prof. Lieber, that the 
South Carolina Gold Mountain Mine is at least as valuable 
as the Dorn Mine, if we bear in mind that it has an ore-bed 
of ninety feet in thickness, and a mountain of ore without 
pyrites, whilst the ore-bed of the Dorn averages only six 
feet in thickness, and, with the sulphurets predominating 
at the lower levels, is not nearly as easily worked. Infor¬ 
mation derived, also, from other disinterested parties, fully 
confirms my views relative to the extraordinary value of 
this mine. 


F. A. GENTH. 


SUPPLEMENT. 


As an error, in carrying out the expenses of working a given amount of ore, 
occurs on page 12 of my Report, I have thought proper to correct it, and also 
to give the items upon which the calculation is based. Since its publication, 
too, I have met with the published Survey of South Carolina, by its late Geolo¬ 
gist, Prof. M. Tuomey, and also a publication of the same kind, by Prof. Oscar 
M. Lieber, in 1857, both of whom, it will be seen, sustain my positions in rela¬ 
tion to the character and value of this property. 

Prof. Tuomey says, “In that part of Chesterfield District which is drained 
by Lynche’s Creek, a hill presents itself which is composed of talcose slates; 
a little further on the slates are exposed on the surface. Protruding between 
these slates is an enormous bed of what, at first sight, appears to be arenaceous 
quartz, mixed with talc. Its greatest width is nearly 800 yards, and I traced 
it for a distance of one mile and a half along the outcrop of the slates. The 
whole of this vast bed is more or less auriferous.” 

Prof. Oscar M. Lieber says, “Our State is especially rich in metals, for with 
them nature has most liberally supplied her, so that all who feel interested in 
her welfare must anxiously desire the arrival of the time when these resources 
shall no longer be dormant. To expedite this, it is necessary that those inju¬ 
dicious speculations which have so greatly retarded the prosperity of mining 
in North Carolina and elsewhere, should be avoided, and that in all mining 
operations competent men should be at the head. 0 

“We have numerous failures owing to injudicious and ignorant management 
in our own State, and, unfortunately, such cases always have a tendency to 
stamp mining as uncertain and hazardous, while, in reality, it should be 
enumerated among the most valuable and important of all industrial modes of 
investment. As long as mining is regarded as a fit subject for speculation 
failures must occur.” 



9 


These remarks of Prof. Lieber concur with my own, and their truth has been 
faithfully illustrated by sad experience. Good properties, though rare, as my 
Report, in its opening, in relation to formation, shows, have, for speculative 
purposes, been burdened with much worthless property, in order to convey an 
idea of great extent, and hence, value, when, in reality, the intrinsic value, if it 
had any, was limited to a small territory. Such schemes, represented by 
enormous stock capitals have resulted, as they always will, in nearly total loss, 
whereas, if the capital had been proportioned to the real value of the property, 
success would have attended the effort. I trust the period has arrived when 
mining properties will be measured by their value—based upon reliable and 
permanent production—instead of being, as in so many instances heretofore, a 
medium for enriching a few speculators, through the false or ignorant state¬ 
ments of well-paid geologists. 

Prof. Lieber says, “Gold is one of the few metals which has, hitherto, been 
mined in our State, although the manner in which the mining operations were 
conducted was of the rudest character, and calculated for anything rather than 
permanent advantage.” After remarking relative to the havoc produced by 
bad mining, he continues, “No one at all acquainted with mining could have 
anticipated any other result, for it is impossible that a profession, requiring so 
much study and experience as that of mining engineering, can be attained and 
practised the same day.” 

Speaking of this Mine, he says, “it is situated on Lynche’s Creek, in Ches¬ 
terfield District. As there are various points of interest connected with it, 
which have long called attention to its geognostic—geological—conformation, 

I cannot avoid expressing some surprise that it should have been so completely 
misinterpreted by former observers, although there are a variety of reasons 
why this Mine should have been so difficult to decipher, and why its somewhat 
complex character should have led to misconceptions. It has never been 
viewed in connection with other Mines, partly from the fact that the unusual 
and certainly very great size of the lenticular veins rendered any comparison 
difficult; partly because the highly disintegrated state of both gangue and 
country placed obstacles in the way of their separation and exact distinction, 
but principally because a most savage and wasteful treatment of the Mine 
has produced such confusion, that an attentive and protracted investigation 
can alone establish its true character.” 


This I have given to it, and 1 have furnished in my Report, a perfect and 
definite comprehension of its geology and value. That it is, as an aggregate 
property, richer, and by working it understandingly, it can be made more 
profitable than any other gold property in the Atlantic States, I am prepared 
to prove, by putting it in operation as soon as a portion of it is disposed of on 
the terms proposed. 

Prof. Leiber here quotes Prof. Tuomey, as follows: “He, in his report, 
speaks of the ruinous effects which the system of letting to irresponsible per¬ 
sons, has exerted upon this Mine,” See my Report. The Mine itself has few 
equals, and on account of the quantity and purity of its gold, occupies a posi¬ 
tion of singular interest among the mines of South Carolina. Chilian Mills and 
Arastres have been used, but “Long Toms” and Rockers, have chiefly been 
relied upon. The gold is worth about $1 02 per pennyweight. Rockers are 
now only in use at the Mine. Steam-power was never applied;” (since it has 
been, see my Report,) “yet it is this alone, which enabling the ores to be taken 
rank and file as they come, that can redeem the Mine. It is hoped a day may 
arrive when it will be taken in hand by competent men, supplied with ample 
means, and then there is little room to doubt that it will be found wanting in 
productiveness.” This is a qualified affirmation in relation to the value of this 
property, which I do not entertain, because I have satisfied myself, as previ¬ 
ously stated, by thorough and repeated investigation and experiment, that it 
has the value and practicability I have claimed for it. 

In my report,33J per cent, of $400 for expenses, is printed $166 66§, instead 
of $133 334 as it should have been. It was impossible to correct the Report 
without reprinting it; and further, were the erroneous figures conceded, the 
profit would be ample. I herewith, however, make a maximum estimate of 
expenses for working 

2000 bushels of ore per day, product @ 20 cts. per 100 lbs. $400 00 
50 Laborers, at $22 50 per mo., or 75 cts. per day, $37 50 


12 Miners, © 35 00 “ $1 16$ “ 

1 Blacksmith, ...... 

4 Engineers, at $2 00 per day, 

1 Superintendent, ..... 

1 Assistant Superintendent, 


14 00 


1 50 


8 00 


4 00 


3 00 


Amount carried forward, 


. $68 00 



4 


Amount brought forward, 

1 Miller,. 

1 Clerk, . . 

15 Cords of Wood, at $1 00 per cord, . 
Contingencies to make up the sum of 33^ per cent, 
on the gross amount of gold, . 


$68 

00 

9 

00 

2 

00 

15 

00 

4G 

33* 


- 133 33£ 

Nett profit per day, ...••• $260 GGj 

wliich, 300 days, amounts to $80,000 per annum. 

I will here state, that for one year from the time the steam-power, now on this 
property was available, the product deposited in the mint at Charlotte and the 
Bank of Camden was upward of $12,000, which was produced by working the 
ore as it came, with two little nearly worn out Chilian Mills, and in sueh a 
slovenly manner as to lose about thirty per cent of the gold. 

To test the value of the property by this standard, suppose we put there 8 
Chilian Mills, and 32 Tyrolean, as I propose, at a cost of, with quicksilver, not 
to exceed $3,500. If the product is no greater in proportion, than is above 
stated, it would be as 8 to 2 or four times the quantity per annum, $48,000 
Less Expenses, one-third, ....... 10,000 


Nett annual profit, ...... $32,000 

or upwards of 20 per cent, upon capital, $150,000, and the cost of Chilian 
.Mills, &c., $3,500, making the aggregate of $153 500. 

This is measuring the products and profits of the property by its existing im¬ 
perfect facilities, and hence, there can be no ideality as to the result; as I am 
ready to accompany the purchasers of one-half of it, or their representatives— 
the more critical and intelligent in their judgement and action the better—to 
it, where they can collect the ore, pass it through the mills, and determine for 
themselves the truth of my statements and deductions. 

MONTROVILLE W. DICKESON, 
Geologist, 

No. 424 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. 
























